CALLUM OSMAND had the final say in last season’s thrilling Premiership title race when he stroked home the third goal in the 3-1 triumph over Hearts at Parkhead on May 16.
It was the last kick of the ball before referee Don Robertson signalled the game was over to cue bedlam on the pitch as the Hoops fans cavorted in glee.
That strike – following goals from Arne Engels (pen) and Daizen Maeda – brought down the curtain on the action in Paradise for another year as Martin O’Neill’s side sealed a fifth successive flag, an unlikely achievement for a chunk of a turbulent campaign.
Osmand, signed last summer from Fulham, is hoping to pick up where he left off when the champions take on Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly at the same venue tomorrow afternoon.
THE GRAND FINALE…Callum Osmand, supported by Kelechi Iheanacho, celebrates rolling in the goal that assured Celtic a fifth successive title in the 3-1 victory over Hearts on May 16.
The 20-year-old forward is also hoping to stay clear of the injuries that came close to derailing his debut crusade in the east end of Glasgow.
Osmand grabbed the spotlight when he claimed the third and killer goal in the 3-1 extra-time win in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final victory over Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side at Hampden in November.
Unfortunately, he was carried off with a hamstring strain in the next game, the Europa loss to FC Midtjylland in Denmark, before coming back as the season reached a dramatic last-day crescendo.
Osmand is now raring to go and reckons he has something to prove.
The livewire frontman said: “I saw something that was saying it’s now more about seeing if I can do it against everyone instead of just having a couple of big moments.
“I want to challenge myself to be able to do it week in, week out and not just be a ‘moments player’.
“I want to stake my claim and show I can do more than that and be a regular. That’s the goal for me this season. Just giving what I can all the time instead of just here and there.”
Osmand missed the Wilfried Nancy ‘experience’ – 33 days in which the team lost six of the Frenchman’s eight games before he got the boot in early January – with O’Neill returning for the remainder of a remarkable season.
NET PROFIT…Callum Osmand turns round in glee after scoring Celtic’s third goal in the 3-1 Premier Sports League Cup semi-final win in November. Kieran Tierney is about to join the celebration while Ibrox duo James Tavernier and Jack Butland have that sinking feeling.
Before the competitive action starts with the Flag Day visit of Dundee on Monday August 3, Osmand plans to have a heart-to-heart with O’Neill to find out how the Irishman envisages his role in the forthcoming term.
The Jersey-born forward, who has represented Wales at Under-17 level, told the Scottish Sun: “I’ve not had a chance to speak to him yet.
“Now we’re back in Glasgow, that is something I’ll do. I’ve spoken with Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham about general stuff and that side of things.
“But I do want to sit down with the manager as well to go through that side of stuff.”
Osmand added: “It’s amazing he’s stayed on. I’m very happy he’s still here. Hopefully, he can make use of me, I can play for him and do what I do best.
“I’m just hoping I get that chance. I’m going to work as hard as I can, the same as last year, to make sure I can put myself in the best place.
“Last season, Martin O’Neill and the coaching staff showed a lot of faith in me, so. hopefully, it’s the start of something big.”
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